Meaning of "On Letting Go" by Circa Survive

The lyrics of "On Letting Go" delve into the universal desire for acceptance and belonging. The speaker expresses a longing to be part of someone's family, desiring the sense of security and love that often comes with it. The repeated line "All I wanted to be was one of your children" emphasizes this desire and reveals a deep longing for a place to belong.

However, the speaker feels disconnected and unrelated, as reflected in the line "We are unrelated." This can be interpreted as a feeling of being an outsider or being rejected by the person or people they wanted to be part of. The use of repetition in the chorus ("Are we even now?") suggests a longing for reconciliation or closure, indicating that there may have been a falling out or a sense of betrayal that has caused this disconnect.

The imagery of water is used throughout the song to convey a sense of cleansing and release. The line "See how clean the water is where you are, wash off your handcuffs" suggests the need to let go of past burdens or emotional constraints. The hidden messages that the speaker mentions could be symbolic of false promises or manipulations, indicating that someone has deceived them or manipulated their emotions.

The line "If blood is thicker than water then, you'll drown quicker than we intended" plays with the idea that family bonds are strong and enduring, but in this case, they bring harm rather than support. It suggests that the speaker has experienced pain or betrayal from someone they considered to be family, and that blood ties can be deceiving. This theme is further emphasized in the line "You'll know where you can find us in the end," implying that the speaker has moved on and found their own sense of belonging outside of traditional family ties.

The overall meaning of the lyrics seems to revolve around the search for acceptance and the idea that family bonds can be fraught with complexity and betrayal. It speaks to the human need for a sense of belonging, but also acknowledges that sometimes finding that sense of belonging can mean letting go of preconceived notions or relationships that are no longer healthy or fulfilling.